La Natividad team captain, 9-goaler Lolo Castagnola.
A talent-laden La Natividad (Sapo Caset, Nachi Heguy, Rodrigo Andrade and Lolo Castagnola) foursome trailed a veteran La Aguada/Las Monjitas lineup (Agustin Merlos, Magoo Laprida, Eduardo Novillo Astrada, Alejandro Novillo Astrada) for four chukkers before rallying past them for a 12-9 win in Tortugas Open play in Buenos Aires this afternoon.
La Aguada/Las Monjitas took the early lead outscoring La Natividad 2-1 in the opening chukker as both teams were adjusting to new teammates. The La Natividad team boasted the addition of Brazilian 7-goaler Rodrigo Andrade and 9-goaler Sapo Caset, but La Aguada/Las Monjitas took the field with Magoo Laprida, the core Astradas (Eduardo and Alejandro), with Agustin Merlos filling in for Javier Astrada.
Three more goals from La Aguada/Las Monjitas set the pace for the second chukker. La Natividad managed just a single goal and trailed 5-2.
The two teams exchanged goals in the third period. La Aguada/Las Monjitas scored twice with La Natividad matching them goal for goal. The first half ended with La Aguada/Las Monjitas holding on to their three goal lead, 7-4.
La Natividad seemed to be settling into their lineup as the second half got underway. Three goals by La Natividad were countered by a pair of goals from La Aguada/Las Monjitas. La Natividad cut into the La Aguada/Las Monjitas lead, but still trailed by two goals, 9-7.
La Natividad turned it around in the fifth with an oppressive defensive effort that held La Aguada/Las Monjitas scoreless while picking up a goal from Nachi Heguy and two goals from Sapo Caset. An energized La Natividad team left the field at the end of the fifth with a 10-9 lead.
The momentum was with La Natividad as they charged into the final chukker of play. Shutout defense kept La Aguada/Las Monjitas on their heels throughout much of the chukker while two more goals lifted La Natividad to a 12-9 win.
Tortugas Open play will continue on Saturday, September 28 with defending champion Ellerstina (Facundo Pieres, Gonzalito Pieres, Mariano Aguerre and Nicolás Pieres) making their first tournament appearance in a 4PM contest with La Aguada (Guillermo Terrera, Facundo Sola, Miguel Novillo Astrada, and Nacho Novillo Astrada).
On Sunday, September 29, at 4PM, La Dolfina (Adolfo Cambiaso, Pelon Stirling, Pablo MacDonough and Juan Martín Nero) will face La Aguada/Las Monjitas.